Word Origin & History

parrot c.1525, perhaps from dial. M.Fr. perrot, from var. of Pierre "Peter;" or perhaps a dial. form of perroquet (see parakeet). Replaced earlier popinjay. The verb "repeat without understanding" is first attested 1596. The Ger. naturalist Alexander von Humboldt in S.America 1800 encountered a very old parrot that was the sole speaker of a dead Indian language, the original tribe having gone extinct.

Example Sentences for parrot

"I'll tell ma," was their parrot cry: and that meant boxes on the ear.

She was as undomestic as a shop-front and as out of tune as a parrot.

Birds of prey are few; the parrot and pigeon tribes are better represented.

He is a cousin of the parrot, but much larger, and far more gorgeous.

I had always before repeated my verses like a parrot, I think; but this came home to me.

The parrot looked up, as if he had awakened from a long, long dream.

She has a parrot with her, and they are both very excitable and communicative.

Can I exercise my thoughts, with the chatter of a parrot in my ears?

The parrot is an Indian bird, in size very slightly smaller than a dove.